New amphibious transport ships to be built partially replacing retired Royal Navy ships HMS Albion and Bulwark
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The transport ships will be procured alongside drones and high-speed boats
New amphibious transport ships are being procured to replace two vessels that were retired.
Defence secretary Dan Jarvis confirmed that the Royal Marines Commando Forces will be equipped with new vessels. The UK is aiming to create a combined fleet with the Netherlands, with the capabilities replacing the decommissioned HMS Albion and Bulwark.
Mr Jarvis said: “Our elite Commando Force is respected around the world, conducting operations that help to keep the nation and our allies safe. We’re investing in new lethal strike drones, high-speed boats and amphibious transport ships to give our Commandos the equipment they need to stay ahead of adversaries and defend us.
“The Defence Investment Plan will prioritise getting the latest kit into the hands of our frontline forces, so they can continue their vital work in an increasingly dangerous world.”
More than £500m has been committed to the transformation of the Commando Force. Personnel are trained to be a part of the rapid reaction force and deploy anywhere in the world at short notice. They can seamlessly go from operating in the Arctic to the Middle East.
Alongside the amphibious ships, they’ll be equipped with new high-speed Joint Commando Craft (JCC). These can be used to seize Russian shadow fleet tankers and be utilised in other maritime security operations. Nearly £100m has been set aside for new transformative technologies, including un-crewed vessels, new communications systems, and networked targeting and strike drones.
HMS Albion and Bulwark, two landing platform docks, were retired by former defence secretary John Healey. An announcement was made in the House of Commons in November 2024. At the time, he said they were effectively retired by previous Conservative ministers and "superficially kept on the books” at a cost of £9m a year - with no intended timeframe to return to sea.
The UK Defence Journal said the planned successor has been pursued under the Multi Role Strike Ship programme, a project for up to six vessels to replace the Albion-class ships, three Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay-class landing ships, and the Primary Casualty Receiving Ship RFA Argus. They added that the first hull is expected in the early 2030s, with plans to move on from the concept phase expected sometime during 2026.
UK and Dutch governments previously signed a memorandum of understanding, known as Project Catherina, to study a shared amphibious ship design. This was set aside in 2024 after their requirements and budgets were deemed to be too far apart. The Netherlands is planning to procure six Amphibious Transport Ships to replace its Rotterdam-class landing platform docks and Holland-class patrol vessels. Deliveries are planned from 2032.
An agreed deal to sell HMS Bulwark to Brazil was finalised earlier this year. Her regeneration work is expected to be completed this year. Reports in Brazil state she was sold for roughly £20m, though this was never confirmed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).